What is the Origin of Stress-Induced Weight Gain?

This is a core concept in psycho-endocrinology, a field that formally links chronic psychological stress to the sustained activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The clinical recognition of the link between high cortisol and central obesity, even in non-obese individuals, provided the scientific foundation for this term. It explains the biochemical pathway through which emotional and psychological factors directly influence metabolic health.

What is the Mechanism of Stress-Induced Weight Gain?

The primary mechanism involves the chronic hypersecretion of cortisol, which acts as a potent glucocorticoid hormone. Cortisol promotes the differentiation of pre

Stress-Induced Weight Gain ∞ Area

Stress-Induced Weight Gain

Meaning

Stress-Induced Weight Gain is the clinically observed phenomenon where sustained psychological or physiological distress leads to a measurable, unfavorable alteration in body composition, primarily characterized by an increase in visceral adipose tissue deposition. This weight gain often occurs independently of major, conscious changes in caloric intake or physical activity. It is a direct metabolic consequence of chronic endocrine dysregulation, particularly the sustained elevation of catabolic hormones. This pattern of fat storage carries a higher risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.